Jeff Bezos’ area firm, Blue Origin, efficiently launched its New Shepard rocket at round 9:30 a.m. ET on Monday, because it seeks to problem Elon Musk’s SpaceX within the area tourism trade.
What stands out most about this mission is that it featured the primary all-female area crew since 1963, when Soviet astronaut Valentina Tereshkova accomplished her solo mission. This additionally marks the thirty first journey of the rocket and its eleventh mission with a crew on board.
The crew for this launch included pop artist Katy Perry, “CBS Mornings” anchor Gayle King, movie producer Kerianne Flynn, Bezos’ fiancée Lauren Sánchez, civil rights activist Amanda Nguyen, and aerospace engineer Aisha Bowe.
Whereas this journey aimed to spotlight the roles of girls in astronautics, Blue Origin has confronted criticism for being an unique enterprise for the rich, particularly throughout a time of financial hardship within the U.S.
Nevertheless, Perry provided a distinct perspective. In a CBS interview, she stated, “It received’t be about me; it will likely be concerning the lovely Earth we get to see. I feel the attitude we’re all going to stroll away with is, ‘Oh my gosh, now we have to guard our mom.’”
To expertise that very same view of Earth from area, although, contributors are required to pay $150,000 to order a spot.
Final month, the corporate introduced that it’s getting ready for a second launch of its New Glenn rocket someday within the spring.